16
APRIL/MAY 2013 SA MINES & ENERGY JOURNAL
FEATURE
J+H WILLIAMS
around 5Mtpa of high grade
concentrate over 30 years. The
project is unique in its inclusion of
a coal mine and power station to
supply its own low cost energy.
Other early stage projects also
remain undeterred by lower prices
and challenging economic conditions.
The Braemar cluster includes
several large deposits along the
Braemar Iron Formation, which
stretches from Peterborough
in SA to the NSW border. It is
claimed the area could see five
large open cut mines eventually
producing over 50Mtpa of
concentrate for around 100 years.
Most projects in the region
are progressing through
exploration and early studies.
Minotaur's Mutooroo project
is in the final stages of a scoping
study which has established a
1.5 billion tonne predominantly
magnetite resource, to be mined
at 10Mtpa for over 30 years.
Tony Belperio, Executive
Director Business Development
at Minotaur, says the company is
currently waiting on metallurgy
to reveal whether the resource's
hematite can also be extracted
before finalising the study.
Havilah is at a similar stage.
The company has confirmed
an inferred JORC resource at
its Braemar-based Maldorky
deposit of 150mt and 304mt
at its Grants resource. Havilah
hopes to complete a DFS this
year and commence production
in 2014-15, using Port Adelaide
if necessary; however, a deep
water facility would enable
significantly expanded production.
Royal Resources is also
pressing ahead with studies on its
Braemar project, with a resource
defined at around 1.8 billion
tonnes within its focus area, the
Razorback Premium Iron Project.
"We're currently looking to
optimise capital and operating
expenses before progressing to
a DFS, funding dependent, later
this year,
" Managing Director
Marcus Flis says. He says due
to the State's lack of a capesize
vessel capable port, the project
will transport its ore via pipeline
to a deep sea anchored vessel,
before being de-watered
onboard and transferred to
capesize vessels for export.
Others insist that a capesize
vessel capable port located on the
east side of Spencer Gulf will be
required to ser vice the Braemar
region, with various options
under consideration including
Port Pirie and Myponie Point.
With the ability to inject jobs,
funds and optimism in the
economy -- and fuel a string
of other projects -- the time to
overcome our infrastructure
challenges and cement SA's iron
ore future could hardly be better.
Operating mines
Middleback Ranges
and Southern Iron
Cairn Hill
Advanced projects
Wilgerup and Fusion
Wilcherry Hill
Central Eyre Iron Project
Operator
Arrium
IMX Resources
Centrex
IronClad
Iron Road
System
Ore railed to Whyalla, processed and loaded to ships via
barging and three loading platforms located 5, 7.5 and 8.5
nautical miles offshore.
Ore transported by truck briefly then railed to port, before
loading directly into ships from the wharf via container lifting
and rotating crane.
Ore to be transported via truck (Wilgerup) and slurry pipeline
(Fusion) to port for direct loading. Land has been purchased,
State government approvals in place, awaiting Federal EPBC
Act approval then board approval.
Ore to be trucked to storage facility then transported by
barge in containers, to barge-mounted crane 7km offshore.
Given the green light by SA government; offshore loading
successfully trialled; funding being sought whilst awaiting
State DAC approval.
Ore to be railed to port for direct loading. Land has been
purchased; community consultation commenced.
Export options
Port capacity
13 Mtpa; shallow port, two loading points
accommodate cape size vessels. Currently
shipping at 7 Mtpa; on track to increase to
12 Mtpa from July this year.
Shallow water; two panamax vessels
currently shipped each month.
20 Mtpa; Deep port accommodating
panamax and cape size vessels. Centrex
requires 10 Mtpa with 10 Mtpa available
for others.
Panamax or capesize vessels
30 Mtpa; Deep port accommodating
panamax, handymax and capesize
vessels. Iron Road requires 20Mtpa with
10Mtpa available for others initially
- potential for future expansion.